Aboul Gheit Emphasizes Arab, Int’l Rejection of Forced Displacement of Palestinians

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit speaks during a press conference after the 33rd Arab Summit, in Manama, Bahrain, May 16, 2024. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit speaks during a press conference after the 33rd Arab Summit, in Manama, Bahrain, May 16, 2024. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
TT

Aboul Gheit Emphasizes Arab, Int’l Rejection of Forced Displacement of Palestinians

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit speaks during a press conference after the 33rd Arab Summit, in Manama, Bahrain, May 16, 2024. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit speaks during a press conference after the 33rd Arab Summit, in Manama, Bahrain, May 16, 2024. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

The Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, stressed on Thursday Arab and international rejection of the forced displacement of the Palestinian people, condemning it morally, humanely, and legally.

He called on the international community to hold an international peace conference that embodies the two-state solution, which enjoys global consensus.
In his speech at the 33rd Arab Summit held in Manama, Aboul Gheit noted that peace in the region requires the immediate end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, noting that some Western countries have provided political cover for the Israeli occupation.
The secretary general added that the region's crises "remain unresolved, and the wounds have not healed," highlighting that the most dangerous situation is in Sudan, which threatens the survival of the state and the lives of millions.
He also pointed out that crises in several Arab countries, especially in Yemen and Libya, have exhausted the states and their people, who are still waiting for solutions and settlements that could restore normalcy.
Aboul Gheit reiterated that collective action is the way to achieve prosperity for all, saying that Arabs will only overcome their difficulties through solidarity and will only rise together.



Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
TT

Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.